Holding our smartphone at arm’s length, we can
take self-portraits. Do you take ‘selfies?’
Most of us do, at one time or another, and with
varying degrees of happiness with with the image we capture. I am notorious for
using my phone’s camera to take pictures and because those in the pictures are
not prepped and posing, the result is not always a portrayal liked by others! Then,
again, many see themselves only with critical eyes. “That pictures make me look
___________ (you can fill in whatever adjective works best for you). Seldom does anyone say, “that’s a great picture
of me!”
How do you see yourself, my friend? Do you only see that temper? Do you see only that part of your personality that you think is your greatest flaw? Here is something I know… God is a Father who thinks you are beautiful. As I love to say, the One who knows you best, loves you most. That part of your life that you hate, that one thing in you that you constantly ask Him to change, heal, or take away- may serve a good purpose when we put it into His hands. I am not suggesting that we rejoice in our sins or make peace with unholy habits. It is right to ask the Spirit to empower and transform us, but there are times when He will not take what we think to be a curse from us because it keeps us faithful to Him.
It is often at the point of our greatest 'weakness'
that God finds the opportunity to do His greatest work. Paul was extraordinarily used of God and
because of his gifts, he was subject to pride, which could
have destroyed him. God gave him another ‘gift,’ that made him God-aware
and Spirit-reliant. I love his
authenticity in this passage: "I have received such wonderful
revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in
my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.
Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.
Each time he said, “My
grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to
boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions,
and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
(2 Corinthians 12:7-10, NLT) We cannot know what he wanted God to
take away and can only speculate over Paul's 'thorn in the flesh' (NIV)
but whatever it was, he disliked it enough to pray long and hard for healing.
God said, "No! That thing is my gift to you to keep you leaning hard on my
grace, not yourself.”
I love the lesson about becoming aware of our true self and God’s will that is found in the story of that night when Jacob wrestled with a heavenly messenger at the Ford of Jabbok. He was anxious about his coming meeting with his older brother, Esau, a man he had defrauded years before. I am sure he felt some shame, too. But God met him and gave him a new identity. The encounter left him a changed man. "Then the man (messenger) said, “Let me go, for it is dawn.” But Jacob panted, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” “What is your name?” the man asked. He replied, “Jacob.” “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “It is now Israel, because you have struggled with both God and men and have won.” (Genesis 32:26-28, NLT) There was another result, less pleasant. Jacob’s hip was wrenched and he walked with a limp from that day. Yes, that was a daily reminder of his life-changing encounter with the Lord’s messenger!
Christian, sees you as you are and loves you
wholly! He sees the personality, the
gifts, the flaws, the failures, the sins, the strengths that make the wonder of
you! I encourage you to take a second
look at that part of your life that makes you feel ‘ugly,’ and make it the
thing that drives you to your knees. Prayerfully consider, with the help
and insight of the Spirit, whether God is giving you a 'gift' to keep you
close to Him. Thank Him that He is greater than your weakness and present Him
with your 'problem,' inviting Him to remove it or use it -- in keeping with His
eternal purposes. Make the statement of faith with Paul - “For when I
am weak, then I am strong.” When
we, by faith, come to accept that Jesus is ‘enough’ we will be filled with His grace, His joy will
fill our heart and mind.
Here is a word from the Word. Let’s not read it as a threat, but as a promise of His sufficient grace for our weakness. "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:12-16, NIV) Let God love you to life!
(Video of this blog at this link)
____________________
I just want to speak the Name of Jesus
Over ev'ry heart and ev'ry mind
'Cause I know there is peace within Your presence
I speak Jesus
I just want to speak the Name of Jesus
'Til ev'ry dark addiction starts to break
Declaring there is hope and there is freedom
I speak Jesus
('Cause) Your Name is power
Your Name is healing
Your Name is life
Break ev'ry stronghold
Shine through the shadows
Burn like a fire
I just want to speak the Name of Jesus
Over fear and all anxiety
To ev'ry soul held captive by depression
I speak Jesus
Shout Jesus from the mountains
Jesus in the streets
Jesus in the darkness over ev'ry enemy
Jesus for my fam'ly
I speak the holy Name Jesus
Abby Benton | Carlene Prince | Dustin Smith | Jesse Reeves | Kristen Dutton | Raina Pratt
© 2019 BEC Worship; Raina Pratt Publishing Designee; WriterWrong Music; For Me and My House Songs; Integrity's Praise! Music; Worship Coalition Songs
CCLI License # 810055
No comments:
Post a Comment